An unverified report out of the Far East claims that Apple will unveil in January 2012 two new models of the iPad, with one high-end version featuring an 8-megapixel camera and a mid-range model equipped with a 5-megapixel shooter, but the rumor has quickly been dismissed as unlikely.

Taiwan industry publication DigiTimes released on Thursday a pair of unusually specific reports about Apple's plans for the next generation of iPads. However, AppleInsider cannot vouch for the claims and is including them simply for the sake of discussion.

According to one report from the publication, Apple will take the wraps off both a high-end and a mid-range iPad at the MacWorld | iWorld conference on Jan. 26, 2012. Such a move, however, would be highly unlikely, as Apple announced in late 2008 that it would no longer exhibit at the conference after January 2009.

Apple has instead preferred to unveil its first two generations of the iPad at its own media events. The original version of the touchscreen tablet was announced on Jan. 27, 2010, while the iPad 2 was shown off on March 2, 2011.

DigiTimes did reaffirm widespread reports that the next-generation iPad will feature a Retina Display-like screen with a doubled resolution of 2,048 pixels x 1,536 pixels. Sources told the publication that both the rumored mid-range and high-end models would feature QXGA resolution with a dual LED light-bar solution to bolster the brightness of the display.

The report also went on to note that Sharp will be the "major panel supplier" for the display on the third-generation iPad, with Samsung and LG also producing some panels. Samsung is rumored to manufacture quad-core A6 processors, as well as the CMOS image sensor for the mid-range iPad, which sources indicated would sport a 5-megapixel lens. Sony has reportedly been tapped to provide the image sensor for a high-end iPad with an 8-megapixel lens.

Finally, sources said Apple would continue to offer the iPad 2, at a discount, in order to position the device to compete directly with Amazon's $199 Kindle Fire.

A second report from the publication on Thursday claimed the so-called iPad 3 would feature a 14,000mAH battery, a significant boost in capacity from the battery currently used in the iPad 2.

Recent reports have disagreed on Apple's timeframe for the launch of the third-generation iPad. One recent rumor, also out of Asia, claimed Apple would honor late co-founder Steve Jobs by launching the next iPad on his birthday, which falls on Feb. 24. That would fall in line with an analyst report that cited also next February for the launch. For its part, DigiTimes claimed earlier this month that the device will arrive in March or April.

Speculation that Apple will expand the iPad lineup have picked up in recent months. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster suggested last week that the company will offer a broader range of price points for the next-generation iPad. Another analyst recently claimed the Cupertino, Calif., company may be planning an "iPad 2S" model alongside a full-fledged iPad 3.

Sounds reasonable. Part of me wonders why Apple never left the iPad 1 out on the market when the iPad 2 was released. My best guess is that it's similar to the original iPhone; so many improvements were made to make the iPhone 3G, they really didn't want to keep a 1st gen product around.

A second report from the publication on Thursday claimed the so-called iPad 3 would feature a 14,000mAH battery, a significant boost in capacity from the battery currently used in the iPad 2.

If you are adding 4x the pixels and will need more power to push those pixels you'll need ore mAh to maintain the same battery duration. I don't think 14k mAh makes much sense and there are weight and size issues if you use the same tech, or cost issues if you use a new, denser tech.

Either way I think if we assume an iPad with an HiDPI display we also have to assume it will have more expensive components and less available components. For this reason I do think the rumour about having two iPads types could be true. Maybe the iPad 3 with 16GB starting at $488 then moving up the latter and then the 64GB iPad variances get the HiDPI display, bigger battery and extra processing/RAM for an additional cost over the $699 model.

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Yup, it's time for Apple to unveil some new models, if only to show the world that they can produce exciting NEW designs in the wake of Jobs' passing, and there's no better place to do it than @ Tim Cook's first big post-Steve event.

As for the rumor that Apple will sell the current iPad 2 at a price to rival the $199 Kindle Fire.... is that really necessary? It sounds like the Fire sold really well on Cyber Monday, but got pretty scathing reviews ever since, like "The UI sucks. The browser gives me a headache. This thing is slow as hell. My kid keeps buying porn on it.... but it is cheaper than an iPad." Comparing the Fire to an iPad 2 is roughly the equivalent of comparing an EZ Bake Oven to a microwave.... and I think it's safe to say that you can't buy a Microwave at the cost of an EZ Bake Oven. I can understand Apple dropping the price by $150/tier, but I can't see them cutting it from $499 to $199.

Yup, it's time for Apple to unveil some new models, if only to show the world that they can produce exciting NEW designs in the wake of Jobs' passing, and there's no better place to do it than @ Tim Cook's first big post-Steve event.

It'll be years before we start seeing products come from Apple that Jobs wasn't directly part of. I can't even fathom how many years until we start seeing products that don't have Jobs visions built into them. Perhaps never.

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It'll be years before we start seeing products come from Apple that Jobs wasn't directly part of. I can't even fathom how many years until we start seeing products that don't have Jobs visions built into them. Perhaps never.

Oh, clearly. I'm sure Steve had notebooks lying around with basic ideas for technologically advanced products that won't be released for decades. I'm just saying that this next event will be Tim Cook's first official introduction to the public after Steve's passing, and he's got to do a lot more than just slightly upgrade last year's product. I can't remember the last time we got a "One more thing." I want Tim to surprise us like Steve did.

If you are adding 4x the pixels and will need more power to push those pixels you'll need ore mAh to maintain the same battery duration. I don't think 14k mAh makes much sense and there are weight and size issues if you use the same tech, or cost issues if you use a new, denser tech.

Either way I think if we assume an iPad with an HiDPI display we also have to assume it will have more expensive components and less available components. For this reason I do think the rumour about having two iPads types could be true. Maybe the iPad 3 with 16GB starting at $488 then moving up the latter and then the 64GB iPad variances get the HiDPI display, bigger battery and extra processing/RAM for an additional cost over the $699 model.

The iPhone 4 did not have a better GPU or significantly larger battery compared to the 3GS, and it quadrupled the pixels. Things don't work as simply as you might think.

iPhone 4
CPU = Apple A4 (ARM Cortex-A8)
GPU = Apple A4 (PowerVR SGX 535)
RAM = 512 MB eDRAM
On top of that we already had months of the iPad running at 1024x768 to use as a gauge when the iPhone 4 with Retina Display came out. Why is that important? Because the iPad pushes more pixels to the same HW except with less RAM but with a slightly faster CPU clock speed.

Note the iPad is already higher than the iPhone 4 and you suggest doubling it again to 2048x1536 to yield 3,145,728 pixels. That a huge jump in the number of pixels and you say that the HW won't be negatively affected because you didn't notice any from the 3GS to the iPhone 4 isn't a good argument.

Oh, clearly. I'm sure Steve had notebooks lying around with basic ideas for technologically advanced products that won't be released for decades. I'm just saying that this next event will be Tim Cook's first official introduction to the public after Steve's passing, and he's got to do a lot more than just slightly upgrade last year's product. I can't remember the last time we got a "One more thing." I want Tim to surprise us like Steve did.

I hope he makes it his own this next time. The event held the before Steve's death was not the best presentation. A part of me says that it's business and you should be giving a great performance every time but the other realizes that it may not always be possible.

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There is this thing called Moore's Law. Your list above kind of shows this in academic fashion.

I agree that I still have my doubts about a better display, but I actually think it could happen with iPad 3. The technology is out there and if Apple doesn't lead, it will follow.

I think Apple can get quad-core Cortex-A9s if needed.
I know Apple can get much better ImgTech GPUs that no one else has access to if needed.
I know that getting Retina Display on the iPad would set it for iPod-like domination.
I know that Apple has a great chance of sourcing the components in ways no one else can.

I don't know if the processing will be enough.
I don't know if they will be able to source enough good panels.
I don't know if there is still a backlight issue.
I don't know by how much this will affect the battery life.
I don't know if they can use denser battery tech.
I don't know how much they are willing to make the device heavier and thicker for the larger battery and potentially a larger display backlight.

It's not good when you have this many unknowns. Some of these can be traded off and don't have to best the previous year's model to be eligible for sale, but they can't less the user experience as a whole otherwise the effort becomes a fail.

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one big improvement would be to get rid of the dongles. I hope that Apple finally see's the light & includes a Mini HDMI slot, Micro SD Slot & some kick ass speakers. Anything less & they'll be short changing their customers. If Ipad 3 doesn't include at least an SD slot of some sort I'm going to android.
~Food For thought~

Apple confirmed today that they will indeed release a new version of the popular iPad. The new model will be called iPad 3.7 and will fashion a 90 megapixel camera. Its sad to report that the iPad 3.7 will have to be plugged in to a car battery to use the camera. Tim Cook had been quoted as saying ".................."

one big improvement would be to get rid of the dongles. I hope that Apple finally see's the light & includes a Mini HDMI slot, Micro SD Slot & some kick ass speakers. Anything less & they'll be short changing their customers. If Ipad 3 doesn't include at least an SD slot of some sort I'm going to android.
~Food For thought~

The report also went on to note that Sharp will be the "major panel supplier" for the display on the third-generation iPad, with Samsung and LG also producing some panels. Samsung is rumored to manufacture quad-core A6 processors, as well as the CMOS image sensor for the mid-range iPad, which sources indicated would sport a 5-megapixel lens. Sony has reportedly been tapped to provide the image sensor for a high-end iPad with an 8-megapixel lens.

1 answer: Maybe. Sharp got a billion from Apple to ramp up a Retina factory. I think its to early.
2 answer: Probably not. AMD barely gets wafers for its latest 28nm GPU. How could TSMC deliver at least 4-5 million A6 SoC per month?
3 answer: Only minor parts.
4 answer: No. We usually get to know a couple a month ahead when assembly starts.
5 answer: No. Casse manufactures had moles in Hon Hai/ FoxConn. New cases have always appeared before an release.

Conclusion: No jan release date. I still believe late Feb/Mars when part supply is working.

Based on how Apple has handled this sort of thing in the past, I doubt we'll see two models sporting the same 16GB of memory capacity.

So kill the 16GB iPad 3 at $599 and you're probably there. It might even be the case that the iPad 3 will be offered with just one connectivity option as in no wi-fi-only version. Instead you'd have the 32GB iPad 3 starting at $679 and a 64GB at $779.

Meanwhile the 16GB iPad 2 would be offered in two versions, a $399 base version and one with additional connectivity for $479.

So that would be $399, $479, $679 and $779.

All the bases are covered and there is no overlap. You either focus on budget or you go for the high end in which case paying a little more for the extra connectivity isn't going to stop anyone from going that route.

Another option would be to only offer the iPad with 3G in which case $479 would be the starting point.

There are quite a few options open to Apple if the company has decided to offer the iPad in two basic grades. What route Apple would take likely would be dictated more by marketing considerations than engineering issues.

Regardless, the Fire is not a factor. By all reports, there should be quite a few unhappy Fire owners who, by spring, will be ready to switch to the iPad regardless of what pricing and configurations Apple settles on. What ails the Fire isn't going to be fixed with a couple of software updates. It needs a hardware overhaul as well. Doing that and keeping the low price point is just not going to happen, certainly not in the coming year. I don't think Apple needs to worry about any serious challengers in 2012 in this space.

one big improvement would be to get rid of the dongles. I hope that Apple finally see's the light & includes a Mini HDMI slot, Micro SD Slot & some kick ass speakers. Anything less & they'll be short changing their customers. If Ipad 3 doesn't include at least an SD slot of some sort I'm going to android.
~Food For thought~

Maybe it will also include a task manager and live wallpapers.

Seriously, why would you need ANY of that? Apple is pushing for wireless, so that's a step backward. Ever since AirPlay debuted, I haven't used my AV cables. And an SD card is just a place to collect dust. Cloud storage is the SD card's death knell.

Yes it is ... I think $199 to $250 is the low end sweet spot .... Amazon has demonstrated that ...

Apple has followed the same formula with all their other product lines, they should here too.

the I-pod - Shuffle, Nano, Touch

I-Phone - I-Phone 3, 4 and 4S)

MacBook Pro - 13", 15", 17"

At $499 I am not going to buy one, but at $250 I would probably buy two [one for me, one for the kids]

You're dreaming. Apple is not going to sell the iPad 2 at $199 to compete with the Kindle Fire. They're so far apart that it wouldn't make any sense. A high end 10" tablet for the same price as a cut-rate 7" tablet with limited capabilities? Not a chance.

That would be like Ferrari selling their previous model at $20 K to compete with Chevy.

"I'm way over my head when it comes to technical issues like this"Gatorguy 5/31/13

FWIW, an SD card slot would be nice. I am not fond of bringing the adapter with me on vacation. And while we're at it, a mini HDMI port would be useful to play movies on the TVs in hotel rooms. I currently have a first generation 64GB/3G. There isn't anything "inelegant" about having useful connectivity features on a consumer device.

FWIW, an SD card slot would be nice. I am not fond of bringing the adapter with me on vacation. And while we're at it, a mini HDMI port would be useful to play movies on the TVs in hotel rooms. I currently have a first generation 64GB/3G. There isn't anything "inelegant" about having useful connectivity features on a consumer device.

Sure. Let's add a USB port, too. And a couple of other memory card slots since not all cameras use SD. And a slide-out keyboard. And, while we're at it, some people still use parallel and serial ports, so make sure they're included. Oh, can't forget SCSI, too.

When we're through, the people demanding an SD slot and HDMI will be the first in line to complain about the weight (I'm still amazed that people were complaining about the weight of the original iPad).

"I'm way over my head when it comes to technical issues like this"Gatorguy 5/31/13

Sure. Let's add a USB port, too. And a couple of other memory card slots since not all cameras use SD. And a slide-out keyboard. And, while we're at it, some people still use parallel and serial ports, so make sure they're included. Oh, can't forget SCSI, too.

I have a first-gen iPad, but I won't be upgrading until we get an RJ-45 port. You know, for all the times when I'm out and about and need one.

[QUOTE=jragosta;2016267]Sure. Let's add a USB port, too. And a couple of other memory card slots since not all cameras use SD. And a slide-out keyboard. And, while we're at it, some people still use parallel and serial ports, so make sure they're included. Oh, can't forget SCSI, too.

Why does it anger you that I would find a SD card slot useful? I (think I) understand your thought process on the matter of additional connectivity features and I agree (in concept) that too much is too much. The dock connector is thin, but inelegant when a white plastic dongle is hanging off the iPad.

Look: I bought the original iPad - the 'biggest, baddest' one they made. I needed/wanted to import photos from my camera while on the road. I bought the camera connection kit. Is it too much of a stretch that one could wish to not carry an adapter?

one big improvement would be to get rid of the dongles. I hope that Apple finally see's the light & includes a Mini HDMI slot, Micro SD Slot & some kick ass speakers. Anything less & they'll be short changing their customers. If Ipad 3 doesn't include at least an SD slot of some sort I'm going to android.
~Food For thought~

Sounds to me like you are just using the iPad as a media player when it can be used for so much more.

What you are really forgetting is that other people have other uses for the iPad than you. Personally I have to be terribly, terribly bored before I drag out my iPad just to watch some movie or whatever and if there is a computer or a TV in the room I would almost always use that instead.

If Apple does continue to offer iPad2 after releasing iPad3, the pricing strategy will be intriguing. RIght now, do we know how much the carriers are subsidizing iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS? Just because these products are outdated does not mean Apple is suddenly able to make them cheaper than before. In fact, there is a possibility that they are more expensive to manufacture because of lower quantities. So the cost of the substantial discounts may well be shared between Apple and the carriers (the fact that not all carriers offer older iPhone models may support this).

With iPads, carrier subsidy is not really a factor. So how much can Apple lower the price of iPad2 without affecting their overall GM?

Comparing the Fire to an iPad 2 is roughly the equivalent of comparing an EZ Bake Oven to a microwave.... and I think it's safe to say that you can't buy a Microwave at the cost of an EZ Bake Oven. I can understand Apple dropping the price by $150/tier, but I can't see them cutting it from $499 to $199.

Actually an EZ Bake Oven costs between 40 and 50 (I was considering buying one at Christmas for one of my daughters) and I can get a microwave at walmart for $45, so yeah, those are equivalent. With the EZ Bake not having the bulb anymore, ity's more like a microwave now anyway I think.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shompa

2 answer: Probably not. AMD barely gets wafers for its latest 28nm GPU. How could TSMC deliver at least 4-5 million A6 SoC per month?
4 answer: No. We usually get to know a couple a month ahead when assembly starts.

Conclusion: No jan release date. I still believe late Feb/Mars when part supply is working.

I think Feb/March is a more realistic anwer as well, but to the 2 answers above, AMD had to spin off their fabs and have been consistently behind Intel in fab tech for awhile now anyway. Also, TSMC has been in volume production for 28nm since the week before Halloween: http://www.tsmc.com/tsmcdotcom/PRLis...il&newsid=6181

There were rumors of assembled iPad 3's last month, talk of Apple having 2-3M already put together by the end of the year. I don't recall ever hearing more after that initial rumor, but if it was accurate and they already have a large build up that has been kept secret for a change, that would help a lot with the initial allotments.

Quote:

Originally Posted by n403xv

Yes it is ... I think $199 to $250 is the low end sweet spot .... Amazon has demonstrated that ...

No, Amazon has demonstrated that people put up w/a shitty product when they can't afford the better one. People bought lots of Geos in the early 90s, not b/c they were good cars, but b/c they were cheap and they needed a car. There is also a large difference between a 7" tablet and a 10" tablet.